let me also acknowledge the chairman of my authorizing and oversight committee, senator john kerry. [applause] >> thank you, john. and teresa heinz, it's wonderful seeing you here as well. [applause] my congresswoman, nita lowey, who does such a great job in every way and is, as they say, moving on up, which we're happy to hear. i saw howard berman here, and i think we all want to pay a great acknowledgment and gratitude to howard. there are some others that i just want briefly to mention, other members of congress. i know there are some here, but i can't see everyone. i want to also acknowledge foreign minister lieberman, deputy prime minister meridor, ambassador oren, our ambassador dan shapiro, my former deputy secretary jim steinberg, everyone who's made this journey to be with us tonight. and i think that we have a lot to celebrate, because for years we have told you, our israeli friends, that america has israel's back. and this month, we proved it again. [applause] when israel responded to a rain of rockets, when sirens sounded and schools emptied and air raid shelters filled,